What does a photo of Manziel signing autographs mean?

Posted by Kevin McGuire on September 13, 2013, 7:07 PM EDT

AP

Two weeks after Texas A&M issued a half-game suspension to Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Johnny Manziel for signing items that would knowingly be sold for a profit, a photo of the incident in question has surfaced. The photo, obtained and released by ESPN, shows Manziel signing photos in the apartment of broker Drew Tieman, with Tieman standing by his side overseeing the signatures.

According to previous reports, Tieman was said to have paid Manziel $10,000 for signatures provided over a two-day period. The NCAA investigated and cleared Manziel of any wrongdoing, although Texas A&M issued a half-game suspension for violating NCAA bylaw 12.5.2.1, prohibiting student athletes from signing anything that will be sold regardless of compensation.

So what does this all mean? Manziel was already investigated by the NCAA and served a brief suspension for the incident this photo stems from. There is nothing extra incriminating in the photo, so there would be little reason to explore the incident any more. Had there been a pile of cash or a check with Manziel’s name on it visible on the table, then perhaps we are talking about a different story. That is not the case here though, so there should be little the NCAA can do in light of the new photo being shared.

One thing that has come in to discussion is whether or not Manziel could face any other punishment from Texas A&M. That does not appear to be something that would likely stem from this photo alone. Manziel was suspended for violation of NCAA Bylaw 12.5.2.1, which would seem to indicate Manziel confirmed with Texas A&M he had signed items. Whether he lied or was honest about being paid is something only Manziel (and the broker) know for sure, but if he had been paid for his signatures he would have been ruled ineligible rather than simply suspended. If it comes out that he did in fact lie and it can be proven by the NCAA and Texas A&M,then Manziel would also be in direct violation of Texas A&M’s honor code, which could lead to being expelled from the university entirely.

Granted, this would be an extreme worst-case scenario, but even with this photo there is not enough evidence to suggest beyond a reasonable doubt Manziel was misleading about the situation. We can all have our beliefs on what actually happened, but we also live in a country where we are innocent until proven guilty. For the time being, Manziel remains a free man.

I envy your naivete. It must be wonderful to believe all the bad stuff in the world is concentrated in one spot and everyone else is innocent as a newborn kitten. All you have to do is rant about the Evil Ones, then snuggle up safe in the knowledge that all the folks you like wear white hats. Yay!

Deb says:Sep 13, 2013 7:28 PM

It’s said that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily true. The picture says Manziel put his signature on some photos while Tieman stood by. It doesn’t say anything about money changing hands or Manziel what Manziel might have known about the photos.

I don’t like Manziel. But disliking doesn’t magically turn questionable material into proof.

davidpsu says:Sep 13, 2013 7:34 PM

“We can all have our beliefs on what actually happened, but we also live in a country where we are innocent until proven guilty.” Yes, innocent until proven guilty unless your name is Joe Paterno or Penn State!

as an A&M fan I dont ever hear about the honor code. its dead. its makes me sick how fans will defend manziel at all cost but then talk how texas players act and how they run their own program. we r no better. I cant wait for manziel to leave. gigem

dkhhuey says:Sep 13, 2013 7:55 PM

@david – Joe Pa is dead and so is his reputation! This is about Johnny Autograph, not an invitation for you to whine about PSU

It means “NOTHING”! The NCAA has lost credibility years ago! It’s a non story you boring a$$ writers keep trying to spread around before game day because your a bunch of slime balls!! SI yahoo B/R NBC among others are as bad as the Oil companies the Pharmaceutical companies and Religious Establishments. Your all crooks and you should find jobs/”careers” that have value! Jump off a bridge so I can live up to my name!!

If Penn State is so innocent, care to explain why the former University President, Spainer, and two University VP’s, Curley and Schultz are awaiting a
Federal felony trial for perjury and obstruction of justice in the cover up of the Sandusky fiasco?

crystalballrun says:Sep 13, 2013 9:27 PM

@necr0philia – Thanks for reading! I appreciate your feedback and will take your suggestions under advisement.

John Taylor says:Sep 13, 2013 9:45 PM

“It means “NOTHING”! The NCAA has lost credibility years ago! It’s a non story you boring a$$ writers keep trying to spread around before game day because your a bunch of slime balls!! SI yahoo B/R NBC among others are as bad as the Oil companies the Pharmaceutical companies and Religious Establishments. Your all crooks and you should find jobs/”careers” that have value! Jump off a bridge so I can live up to my name!!”

#your

And, for future reference, it’s more than OK to type out the word “ass” on this here website instead of going through the hassle of self-censoring with “a$$.”

So he signs autographs and gets paid for it. What is so un-American about that? I swear the NCAA is run by a room of blowhards.

youcantmakemepickausername says:Sep 13, 2013 10:25 PM

amosalanzostagg says: Sep 13, 2013 9:20 PM

David,

If Penn State is so innocent, care to explain why the former University President, Spainer, and two University VP’s, Curley and Schultz are awaiting a
Federal felony trial for perjury and obstruction of justice in the cover up of the Sandusky fiasco?
———————————————————-
amos,

You’re probably too dumb to realize that you just proved his point, but, well, you just proved his point.

If Penn State is so innocent, care to explain why the former University President, Spainer, and two University VP’s, Curley and Schultz are awaiting a Federal felony trial for perjury and obstruction of justice in the cover up of the Sandusky fiasco?
———————————————————-
amos,

You’re probably too dumb to realize that you just proved his point, but, well, you just proved his point.
____

Au Contraire,

Federal Court and the NCAA are two different venues.

Penn State and Joe Paterno were found “guilty” by the NCAA and the “verdict”was signed off by the new President and the Penn State Board of Trustees. The “sentence” was the 4 year probation, loss of scholarships, the reduction of University “wins” by JoePa and the national shame of University officials at the highest level of the University allowing a child molesting monster to prey on innocent young males and covering it up. That is the epitome of Lack of Institutional Control.

Using your extremely “flawed” thought process, Penn State and Joe Paterno should have proclaimed their “innocence”, dared the NCAA to investigate the Penn State program,
have the NCAA drag on an investigation ala Miami and then watch as a once proud football
program is ripped to shreds by innuendo and conjecture until the NCAA delivers a “Death Penalty” to a University that did not deserve due to the actions of 4 individuals, Spainer,
Schultz, Curley and Paterno.

Do not think that JoePa is on trial when those three individuals face their day in Court. JoePa
has already been found guilty in the court of public opinion for his indifference toward innocent kids. All JoePa had to do was make a phone call to the State Police himself and his reputation and records would be intact.

Do keep on trying though.

RTR

bamafan36 says:Sep 14, 2013 2:19 AM

Paterno, himself, said that he should have done more to prevent that pedophile from hurting any more kids. Grown men went to depositions, and gave detailed accounts of encounters with Sandusky’s and his reprehensible sickness! When they dismissed Sandusky from the team for touching kids the FIRST time, they allowed him to move across the hall from Paterno, while heading up their non-profit……..working with kids? Come on, man! PSU and JoePa are as guilty as he is dead!

But, this is about Johnny Moneybags! Unless they find the wire transfers, this issue is dead, too. The NCAA has no teeth, any longer. After how they handled Boise State, AwBarn, Miami, Oregon, etc., they need to let it die.

It’s said that a picture’s worth a thousand words. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily true. The picture says Manziel put his signature on some photos while Tieman stood by. It doesn’t say anything about money changing hands or Manziel what Manziel might have known about the photos.

To piggyback on what Deb is arguing, college athletes, especially Heisman Trophy winners, are going to sign autographs for 2 days for free. Especially when his said hancock on a picture is worth more than gold in Hicktown, USA.

Oh wait, He plays in the SEC !!!! Every illegal thing the SEC does is some how legal with the NCAA !!! Look at this case with Johnny show boy, Look at the Cam Newton one also. Now look at the newest report of what 5 SEC players accepting cash from agents still playing college ball !!! Imagine theres far more, this is just scratching the surface now. The SEC ranks right behing the NFL in paying players. Just strange every time some one in the SEC gets investigated, its a slap on the wrist, not enough prove, evidence~~WHICH IS A CROCK !!! But if its another conference-team they get it handed to them, MAYBE the SEC and NCAA should be investigated into there dealings ???

Unlike many people, I actually enjoy Johnny’s schtick and arrogance, and honestly I couldn’t care less at this point, but really, how dumb do you have to be to let people keep taking pictures at these things?

EVERY non-scholarship STUDENT is allowed to sign autographs, and get paid for them…..why should the athletes be any different?

Deb says:Sep 14, 2013 11:59 AM

@soflosportsfan …

I was simply making that point that this picture only shows Manziel signing one of four photos while another guy looks on. It does not depict Manziel signing anything for two days. That’s your assumption based on what you’ve heard. However, this picture does not prove your assumption. It proves only that Manziel signed one of four photos on the table.

As I said, the fact that we don’t like him and believe he signed photos for two days doesn’t magically turn this picture into proof of that. If someone had a video or a series of time-stamped pictures showing him signing photos for two days, that would be different. I’m not defending Manziel … just pointing out what this picture does not show.